Method and apparatus for forming and trimming die castings



Patented jan.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND TRIMMING DIE CASTINGS Louis H. Morin, Bronx, and Otto Gries, New

Rochelle, N. Y.; Asaid Gries assignor of his onehalf to Crown Fastener Corporation, Warren, It. I., a corporation of Delaware Application April 24, 1946, Serial No. 664,586

6 Claims.

This invention deals with the formation and trimming of die castings. More particularly, the invention comprises means for rst forming a die casting at a casting station, the casting being what is termed a Get and consists of the cast; article, including the gate, runner or get guide, and other parts of the complete unit casting formed. Further the invention comprises the gravity feeding of the get to a trimming station, at which station the get is trimmed and the fmished trimmed casting and remainder of the get are separately discharged. Still more' particularly, the invention deals with the method of forming and trimming gets, as more clearly hereinafter described and claimed. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing parts of a die casting machine and illustrating the method of forming and trimming die castings or gets.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detailed View of the upper portion of the apparatus, as seen in Fig. 1, showing parts preparatory to the injection of casting material into the dies in forming a casting.

Fig. 3 is a plan and sectional View of part of the construction shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the movable upper portion of the guide channels.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the trimming tools employed, and showing a casting or get supported between said tools.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of get wherein two substantially similar articles are simultaneously formed as part thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing another modification.

Information of die castings, it has been the common practice to form a casting at a casting station and then to mechanically and positively feed or deliver the casting to a trimming station. In this method of procedure, considerable time was occupied, in the cycle, in transferring the casting from the casting station to the trimming station, during which period, a next successive casting could not be formed. The result of this procedure has materially slowed down production, particularly from the standpoint that it is not practical or desirable to speed up operation of the machine in such manner as to perform necessary functions and `operations to acquire the desired higher production.

With our present apparatus and method, machine operation can be performed at a rate of speed which is considered practical, and as the casting operation, namely, injection of casting material into the die cavity is accomplished in a very short period of time in a cycle of operation, this formation of the` casting can then be performed speedily and while one casting is being formed, the previously formed casting is trimmed and ejected from the machine. In other Words, the machine can be operated just as fast as it takes to form a casting, and then gravity deliver the casting, or what we term a get, to the trimming station, it being apparent that the casting at the trimming station is trimmed when the next successive casting is formed, the trimming tools being moved into operating position simultaneously in the operation of closing the dies.

With our improved method, an increased production of several hundred percent is possible without any strain or tax upon the machine or apparatus.

In Fig. 1 is shown diagrammatically, one adaptation of carrying this method into effect, and in this figure, I--l represent a pair of similar dies movable toward and from each other in any suitable manner. Each die has on its face a cavity or impression and as the face of the die I0 only is shown, reference characters will be applied thereto. The cavity impression comprises a product forming part II, a sled or guide forming part I2, a recess part I3, in which is formed a cast body for engaging a holding member, as later described, and a gate part i4, which opens directly into the part I2, the part I2 having the branches I5 and I6 leading to the parts II and I3 respectively. The various parts of the cavity or impression of the die forms a resulting cast member or unit which I generally term a get I'I. The get consists of a ring like product IS, an elongated sled I9, having rounded ends 23-2 I, and a thimble-shaped portion 22 which is formed about the rod or holding member 23. The gate portions of the get II are shown at 24, 25 and 26.

The holding rod 23, which also acts as a stripper removing the cast get I'I from the dies IIJ-ID in the separation thereof, has slidably mounted thereon a stripper sleeve 2l actuated through a clevis lever or similar operating member 2B. The

sleeve 21 normally seats upon the upper surfaces of the dies to close the cavity part I3 and then is later moved downwardly on the rod 23 in stripping the get I1 from the rod for delivery into the upper movable portion 29 of the guide channel 39.

The guide channel 39, including the portion 29, is adapted to deliver or feed by gravity the casting or get il from the casting station between the dies, to a position between forming tools 3| and 32, at a trimming station, downward movement of the get in the channels being checked by a stop rod 33 adapted to maintain proper alinement of the get Il between the trimming tools 3| and 32. The channel 39 comprises a pair of plates spaced apart and fashioned to form a large recess or channel portion 34 bordered at the outer edge of the guide 30 in unturned flanges 35, forming a narrow passage or channel 36 through which the parts 25 and 26 are free to pass. The enlarged channel portion 34 is adapted to receive the sled I9 freely but snugly so that the enlarged rounded ends 20 and 2| will bear upon the anges 35 and shoulder portions 37 in maintaining proper position and alinement of the casting I8 between the trimming tools 3| and 32, as later described. Extending rearwardly from the large channel 34 is a narrow channel 38 adapted to receive the gate portion 24.

The movable upper part 29 of the channel 39 has two plate portions 39 and 49, collectively having inner channel surfaces conforming substantially with the channels 34, 35 and 38. The plates 39 and 40 are pivoted or swingably mounted on a rod 4| supported in a suitable bearing block 42, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. Centrally of the bearing block is a spacing member 43 upon which a cam surface 44 on the plate 49 is adapted to operate in swinging the plate members 39 and 49 outwardly so as to separate said plate members against the action of a spring 45, note Fig. 3, seating in a recess, as at 46, in the bearing block 42, or one end thereof.

The purpose of this construction is to spread the members 39 and 49 to facilitate cleaning the same or the inner channel surfaces thereof, or to free a die casting or get which may, for any reason, be jammed or held therein. The members 39 and 46 have fingerpieces 39 and 49 to facilitate individual or collective swinging movement thereof. The members adjacent the channelled portions thereof are spaced apart to form a large opening 41 adapted to allow the parts i8 and 22 of the casting to pass freely therethrough.

The block 42 has an inner plate portion 48 adjustably supported in a bracket part 49 on the machine for alining the movable chute part 29 with the casting, the bracket part 49 supporting the chute 35, the plate 49 being retained in the bracket by a clamp plate or strip 59. It will be noted that the upper portion of the chute 39 is forwardly oiset, as indicated at particularly when the forming tools 3| and 32 are disposed forwardly with respect to the position of the dies IU-I' in the machine. In this connection it will be understood that the channel 39 may be shaped to direct the get to any desired trimming station or other station in the. machine, gravity being utilized to deliver the get from one station to the other, thus dispensing with any type and kind of feed mechanism. In this respect the machine is materially simplified from an operative standpoint.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing is shown a diagrammatic section through the trimming tools 3| and 32, the tool 3| comprises a tubular die portion 52 for trimming the outer peripheral surface of the ring type casting i8 to free it of any ins or Iiare of metal. Within the tubular trimming tool 52 is a core trimming tool 53 for trimming the bore of the ring casting i8 in the same manner. Slidably mounted on the core tool 53 within the tool 52, is a anged sleeve 54 normally held in extended position by a spring 55, the ange 56 of the sleeve 54 seating upon the inner surface of the tool 52, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. The trimming tool 32 is in the form of a punch having a tubular end portion 5l adapted to slide over the tool 53 with the end of the punch engaging the casting I8 and pressing the same over the tool 53, forcing the sleeve 54 inwardly in the operation. As the tools 3| and 32 are brought together upon the casting i8, the casting is trimmed from the gate part 25 and the inner and outer periphery of the casting trimmed simultaneously. Upon separation of the tools 3| and 32, the sleeve 54 operates to eject or discharge the trimmed casting i8 from the tool 53 to discharge it into a suitable receptacle. During the above operation, and after the casting I8 has been trimmed from the remainder of the get, the remainder of the get is permitted to pass downwardly through the chute 39, the stop pin or member 33 having been withdrawn for this purpose. The remainder of the get may be collected in another receptacle so that these parts may be again returned to the melting pot of the machine for re-melting' in forming other castings, thus affecting substantially no waste.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, and also in Fig. 2, diagrammatically shown at 53, is the discharge end of a nozzle from which heated casting material from a suitable source o1" supply is pressure injected into the die cavities when the dies are in closed position.

As stated above, the upper movable portion 29 of the guide channel 30, or the plate members 39 and 4G thereof have the channel portions similar to the channel 39, and for purposes of description, particularly considering Fig. 3 of the drawing, reference characters 34', 36 and 38' are applied to designate like portions of the channels.

lThe trimming tool 3| is what is generally referred to as a compound trimming unit for trimming internal and external surfaces of the casting, and in practice, this unit rst moves in the direction. of the casting i8, after which the tool 32 or punch moves toward the casting, producing the trimming operation, as aforesaid.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the invention has been shown as applied to the formation of a ring type single casting I9. Further in Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown other types of castings which can be formed in order to illustrate another one of the many adaptations and uses of the invention. For example, in Fig. 5 of Vthe drawing, 59 and 60 represent two substantially similar castings in the form 'of pocketbook knobs which are united in the gate part 3l, the latter joining the sled part 62 having the primary gate part 53; Extending from the sled part 62 is another gate part 64 which extends to a part 55 adapted to be formed around a rod or other holder, similar to the holder 23. However, instead or" forming a cylindrical portion, as at 22, the part 65 comprises a substantially U-shaped body of the general form illustrated in Fig. 5. Here it may be pointed out that this body may be shaped to form an independent casting, in which event, the trimming tools employed would also trim such part from the remainder of the resulting get which is generally yidentified as 65 in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The

trimming tools employed will also trim each casting 59 and 60 from the gate portion BI, as well as trim the castings 59 and 60 of peripheral ns or ared metal, similar to trimming the inner and outer diameters of the casting I8.

In Fig. 6, the resulting get 65 diiiers from the get B6, substantially in that the sled part 62' comprises an end portion 6l substantially similar in cross section to the sled 62 of Fig. 5, the remainder of the sled being cut-out or recessed and shaped to form two pairs of guide pin portions 68 and 69 which are utilized to guide the sled in its passage through channels of a slide in guiding the get 66 from a casting to a trimming station.

In Fig. 6, 59 represents one casting, 60' another casting, both similar to the castings of Fig, 5; El', 63 and 64 show the gate portions. Also in Fig. 6, the part 65" differs from the part 65 in being more or less cylindrical in form and modified with respect to the part 22 in having a reduced lower end portion 1U. Here again the part 65' may comprise a secondary casting being formed simultaneously and as a unit part of the single get.

In connection with the formation of secondary castings, it will be apparent that within certain limits, secondary castings may be formed by shaping the holding member, such for example, as the member 23 to suit the resulting casting to be formed, so long as the secondary casting is free for removal from the holding member in the gravity feed of the casting or the complete get from the casting station to the trimming station. In this connection, it will also be apparent that instead of forming two substantially similar parts or castings, as 5Fl-6D, 59-Gt, two distinct castings could be formed and simultaneously trimmed and removed from the remainder of the get at the trimming station.

Considering the two parts, such for example, as I8--22 and the parts 59, 60 and 65, 59', 60' and 65', it will further be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing that as the primary casting, such for example, as I8 and the pairs of castings, as shown in Fig. 5 can be trimmed at one station and as the remainder of the get with the other part 22, 65 and 65' thereon is still in the slide, the slide may direct the remainder of the get to a secondary trimming station where the secondary 'casting may be trimmed or otherwise formed. This latter procedure would be desirable from a standpoint of simplifying the trimming tools employed.

Die castings may be formed from any type or kind of metallic or plastic castings, and particularly those using the injection molding principle where relatively high speed of production can be obtained. In accordance with my improved method, trimming operations are performed upon a casting while a next successive casting is being formed. It will thus appear from the standpoint of delivering the casting from the casting station to the trimming station and trimming the casting, there is no loss of time in actual production of castings. In other words, the machine can operate at a production basis consistent with the ability of a casting machine to produce successive individual castings. The gravity feed employed provides a quick delivery of the casting to the trimming station.

It will be noted from a consideration of Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing that the trimming tool 52 is relieved, as seen at 52' to clear the remainder of the get, and particularly the part 22 thereon,

6 as the tools are brought into engagement with each other to trim the product i8.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for forming and trimming die castings, means at a casting station for forming a die cast body comprising a casting part, a body guide part and a body core engaging part, all of said parts of the body being integrally united, a trimming station comprising relatively movable trimming tools, said trimming station being disposed below and in spaced relation to the casting station, a chute for guiding a body between said stations, means for freeing a body formed at the casting station from said core when the dies are separated to deliver the guide part of the body to said chute in gravity feed and guide of the body to the trimming station, means at the trimming station for checking movement of the body in said chute and to aline the casting part between the tools at the trimming station, means in said chute and on the 'guide part of the body for further alining the body at the trimming station, said chute including an upper section comprising a pair of relatively movable chute plates, and means for pivotally mounting said plates to move toward and from the remainder of the chute.

2. The method of forming die cast bodies by means of a pair of relatively movable dies at a casting station and delivering them to a trimming station disposed below and in spaced relation to the casting station, which comprises forming on a core at the casting station a cast body comprising a product part, a core-engaging part and a guide part, freeing the body by opening the dies while maintaining the core stationary, then with the core still stationary stripping the body therefrom while the dies are open and out of contact with the body, dropping the body by gravity and without interrupting its fall to the trimming station, said guide part of the body serving to hold the body in a predetermined position during said fall, checking the fall of the body at the trimming station, supporting the body in said` predetermined position at the trimming station, and then trimming the body by separating the product part from the core-engaging and guide parts.

3. In a die casting machine comprising a casting station and a trimming station arranged below and in spaced relation to the casting station, means at the casting station for producing a die cast body comprising a product part and a guide part, an elongated, normally open, vertical channel disposed between said stations and having means for engaging the guide part of said body, said channel comprising a pair of spaced walls the upper portions of which are movable relatively to each other, means for moving said upper portions to adjust the same relatively to each other, means at the casting station for discharging said body into said channel for free falling movement therethrough to the trimming station, the product part of the body extending outwardly of said walls during said free falling movement, means at the trimming station for checking the fall of said body and for supporting it in a trimming position, and means for removing the product part from the remainder of the body.

4. In a die casting machine comprising a casting station and a trimming station arranged below and in spaced relation to the casting station, means at the casting station including a pair of relatively movable dies and a core for producing amarsi a die cast body comprising a product par-t, a guide part, and a core-engaging part, an elongated, open,- vertical channel disposed between said stations and having means for engaging the guide part of said body, means at the casting station movable relatively to the core for stripping said body from the core and discharging the same into said channel for free falling movement therethrough to the trimming station, said channel having a side opening through which the product part of the body extends during its free fall therein, means at the trimming station for checking the fall of said body and for supporting it in a trimming position, and means for trimming the body.

5. In a die casting machine comprising a'casting station and a trimming station arranged below and in spaced relation to the casting station, means at the casting station for producing a die cast body comprising a product part and a guide part, an elongated, open, vertical channel disposed between said stations and extending to- Wards a storage station, said channel having means for engaging the guide part of said body, means at the casting station for discharging said body into said channel for free falling movement therethrough to the trimming station, movable means at the trimming station for checking the fall of said body and for supporting it in a trimming position, means for trimming the body,

8l means for withdrawing saidmovable means t'o` permit the body comprising said guide party to fall freely through said channel to said storage station.

6. In a die casting machine comprising a casting station and a tool station arranged below and in spaced relation to the casting station, means at the casting station including a pair of relatively movable dies for producing a die cast body, an elongated vertical channel disposed' between said stationsmeans at the casting station independent of thedies for discharging'said body into said channel for free falling movement therethrough to the tool station, means at the tool station movable into and out of said channel for checking the fall of said body and for supporting it therein, and tool means at the tool station for engaging said body.

LOUIS'H. MORIN. OTTO GRIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi' record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,262,193 Morin et al. Nov'. 11, 1941 2,367,303 Morn Jan. 16, 1945 

